Rochester's Meier makes cut at U.S. Women's Open

Former Rochester High School golfer Amy Meier originally left Indiana for Southampton, New York, in a car on Monday not fully knowing if it would simply be a waste of time or gas.

Fortunately just as she was headed east, Meier got a phone call that it wouldn't be. A first alternate for this week's U.S. Women's Open at Sebonack Golf Club, Meier was instructed by tournament officials to drive to New York anyway in case a spot opened up.

Sure enough, one did and Meier found out she was in the field for the premier championship in women's golf.

"I was pretty calm at first," Meier said of when she received the call. "I don't think it hit me in full force until Thursday when I stepped onto the first tee."

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Judging by her play, Meier hasn't been awed by the surroundings.

Meier made the cut for this weekend's third and fourth rounds, following a first-round score of 74 with a second-round total of 72. She was at 2-over par and in a tie for 23rd heading into Saturday, before shooting an 82 to go to 12-over and drop in to a tie for 58th.

"Playing on this stage with the best golfers in the world is something I have dreamed about since junior golf," Meier said. "It feels surreal. I hope I have many more opportunities."

A two-time all-Big 10 golfer at Ohio State who just finished her fourth and final season of eligibility, Meier turned professional in May and is playing on the Symetra Tour, a developmental tour for the LPGA.

Meier, who earned her first alternate position out of a qualifier in St. Louis, actually got a taste of the U.S. Women's Open last year when younger sister Christine made the field, and Amy ended up being her caddie for the event.

This week, the roles are reversed as Christine, currently a player at Michigan State, is serving as Amy's caddie.

Playing on the Symetra Tour has pretty much meant living out of a suitcase and traveling via car to tournaments across the country, but it is all part of the dreams-chasing process for Meier, who won Michigan's Miss Golf Award for Rochester in 2008.

She still has two classes to complete at Ohio State in the fall, but at the moment is giving it a go in terms of having a professional golf career.

Doing so well on the biggest stage for women's golf and soaking up being around the top golfers in the world should only help Meier in that pursuit.

"Out here, it's all about consistency," Meier said. "It's about playing consistent every week. You can have a couple of great rounds, but it is how you follow up those rounds that count the most."